Murim Login - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 101
‘What is this?’
I was dumbfounded. Kim Butler’s sudden appearance was unexpected enough, but it paled in comparison to what he said to Im Chun-su.
‘Chun-su? Is that you?’
They knew each other?
Now that I thought about it, Kim Butler and Im Chun-su had much in common. They were roughly the same age and both had long careers as Hunters.
‘Come to think of it, Kim Butler was also active as a Hunter during the Great Cataclysm.’
I hadn’t heard it directly from the man himself, but it was something I’d long suspected. Alternating my gaze between the two of them, I asked carefully.
“You two know each other well?”
Im Chun-su’s pupils trembled slightly.
* * *
When Im Chun-su first received the report about Peace Guild, he doubted his own eyes.
The face lingering in his hazy memories—the face he was certain he would never see again—appeared in the photograph within the report.
‘Who… who is this bastard?’
‘Peace Guild Master Kim Hwa-jong. Age 55. B-rank Hunter.’
‘Kim Hwa-jong? A B-rank Hunter?’
‘Yes. Is there a problem?’
‘No, no. I mistook him for someone I used to know.’
Of course. Im Chun-su exhaled a breath of relief.
The face bore some resemblance, but that was all. Besides, that man had died over thirty years ago.
No matter how topsy-turvy the world had become, the dead could not return to life.
‘Even if that bastard had somehow survived, he wouldn’t be rotting away in a place like this. I must have simply confused him with some old B-rank Hunter.’
That day, Im Chun-su drank a glass of soju for the first time in ages, trying to shake off the unease that clung to him. It was an attempt to dispel the horrific memories that had gripped his ankles for over fifty years.
‘Damn it, and I’m still doing this at my age.’
Later, when he heard that Kim Hwa-jong’s information was under airtight security, a chill ran down his spine.
‘Surely not? No. It can’t be.’
But… why were ominous premonitions never wrong?
“Rise forth. Fire Wall.”
A low incantation, and a barrier of flames erupted upward.
Whoosh, crackle!
The ultra-high-temperature blue flames evaporated the ice spikes, harder than steel, without a trace.
And then…
“Fortunate that I arrived in time. Chun-su, you as well.”
The moment Im Chun-su heard that voice—the one he could never forget even in his dreams—he remembered. The terror of being dominated by that man. The humiliation of crawling to survive.
‘Damn it… I’m fucked.’
Jin Tae-kyung asked the man, who had gone rigid as stone.
“You two know each other well?”
What? Know each other well?
Im Chun-su swallowed the curses rising from deep within his lungs and turned around. Standing before him was a man he’d thought dead long ago.
“I-Instructor.”
Kim Butler smiled gently. That demonic laugh, etched so deeply into Im Chun-su’s mind all these years, echoed once more.
“28th Regiment 1st Battalion 2nd Company. Im Chun-su. Yes, I knew the moment I saw you.”
It was a resonance of the soul.
Im Chun-su’s hunched back straightened, his feet snapped together at a forty-five-degree angle, his gaze fixed fifteen degrees above the horizon.
After a lightning-fast motion, a thunderous cry erupted.
“Trainee Number One! Im! Chun! Su!”
The mountain trembled at the call sign he hadn’t shouted in thirty years.
* * *
What Team Leader 1 discovered atop the mountain was a grass field splattered with blood and the Security Team bound tight with magical rope.
‘This is quite the spectacle, quite the spectacle indeed.’
Inwardly clicking his tongue, he drew his sword and cut through the ropes.
Everyone had bled somewhat, but none appeared to have sustained serious injuries. It seemed Jin Tae-kyung had at least shown some restraint.
‘At this level… high-tier B-rank. Or perhaps A-rank Hunter.’
By Team Leader 1’s assessment, Jin Tae-kyung’s abilities seemed to fall into that range.
The descent from the mountain that followed was, for some, a journey through hell itself.
“Why did you do it? Surveillance I could overlook, but what happened today could escalate to attempted murder. Did you not consider the consequences before acting?”
“…I apologize.”
The Security Team Leader hung his head at Team Leader 1’s words.
They’d resorted to force despite the recklessness of it all, only to be thoroughly defeated by Jin Tae-kyung. There was nothing left to say.
“The Guild Master is deeply disappointed.”
“Then, then what?”
“A written apology and salary suspension are the bare minimum. Prepare yourself for worse.”
“Resignation, then?”
“That depends on the Guild Master’s decision.”
“…Sir, Team Leader. Perhaps—”
“Let me be clear: don’t bother with any favors or appeals. I have no interest in defending someone who’s dragged my workplace’s name through the mud. I won’t go against the Guild Master’s judgment either.”
“….”
“Sigh.”
It was then that Team Leader 1 exhaled an exasperated breath.
A sharp, resonant cry echoed from the distance.
– Trainee Number One! Im! Chun! Su!
“…?”
“…?”
What was that? An auditory hallucination?
Team Leader 1, along with the Security Team members who looked half-dead, jumped in shock. The Security Team Leader was the first to regain his composure.
“Excuse me, Team Leader 1. I apologize for the interruption, but I believe I just heard the Guild Master’s voice.”
Team Leader 1, who had been rubbing his ear, opened his eyes wide.
“…You heard it too, Security Team Leader?”
“We heard it as well.”
“Though we couldn’t quite identify if it was the Guild Master’s voice… but we did hear the name.”
“Was that actually someone’s name? It sounded like random noise to me.”
“Really? It sounded like they were announcing their rank and name to me.”
Team Leader 1 grew serious upon hearing the Security Team’s gossip.
“Who was that person you just mentioned? What do you mean, announcing their rank and name?”
To him, Im Chun-su was a respected senior and superior.
An extraordinary Hunter who’d been active since the Great Cataclysm and a war hero—how could he possibly be announcing his rank and name like some unknown soldier?
It was something he’d never imagined and could never imagine.
“Do you still have the leisure to spout such nonsense? What kind of people with their heads on straight would say such things!”
“I-I apologize.”
“We must have misheard.”
“Everyone, get your heads in the game. Do you understand?”
It was the moment Team Leader 1 resumed walking after issuing his warning.
– No, I won’t aaaaah!
“….”
– I’ll correct myself aaaaah!
“….”
It was the cry of a private pouring his very soul into his words.
Team Leader 1’s firmly closed mouth opened only moments later.
“From this moment on, we run at full speed. Execute.”
“Y-yes, executing!”
Everyone gathered here was at least a C-Rank Hunter. They were already superhuman beings who had far surpassed the limits of ordinary people.
Like a runaway locomotive, they reached the Mountain Trail entrance in less than five minutes.
“Took your time. Finally showed up?”
“Guild Master!”
“Lower your voice. My ears are about to fall off.”
Team Leader 1 exhaled in relief at Im Chun-su’s unchanged demeanor.
“I thought something might have happened to you, sir….”
“Something? Was there anything strange?”
“No, nothing like that. But where did that bastard Jin Tae-kyung go?”
“I sent him off after giving him some proper guidance. After talking with him, he seemed like a decent fellow. Why do you ask?”
“I was wondering if he’d caused some commotion.”
“Ah, are you talking about that shouting from earlier?”
“Yes, that’s right. But the voice sounded exactly like….”
Team Leader 1 couldn’t bring himself to finish, and Im Chun-su glared at him.
“Sounded like what?”
“Ah, it’s nothing at all.”
“Disappointing. Those greenhorns down there were playing soldier, so I chased them off. Do universities still have that kind of military hazing culture these days?”
“Ah, I see.”
“What’s with them anyway? I had them do some PT exercises for a bit and they looked like they were about to die.”
Team Leader 1 felt the suspicion he’d been harboring completely vanish.
‘I must have been out of my mind. What was I even thinking?’
While he was reflecting deeply on one side, Im Chun-su was thoroughly shaking down the Security Team.
“Security Team Leader.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
“Tsk. You answer well enough. Yet you still hold the rank of Team Leader after causing such a mess? Is that how it works?”
“I-I’m terribly sorry!”
“What about the others? Are they staying quiet because they’re doing well? Care to dance with the blade today?”
“My sincerest apologies, Guild Master!”
Team Leader 1 watched the scene with a satisfied smile.
There were occasionally rumors circulating that Im Chun-su had a difficult personality. However, having observed him directly from his side, he was a superior with outstanding charisma and an excellent life mentor.
‘Guild Master. I will follow you forever.’
Team Leader 1, gazing at Im Chun-su’s back with infinite admiration, suddenly tilted his head in confusion.
‘…But why is there dirt on the Guild Master’s back?’
He must have scolded the kids quite intensely.
* * *
“We’ve arrived.”
At Kim Butler’s words, I jolted awake in the passenger seat and glanced around nervously. Through the window, I could see the entrance to the Apartment Complex. When had we gotten here?
“Th-thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.”
A smile bloomed across his handsomely weathered face. He reminded me of a middle-aged actor who once dominated an era.
‘No, this man really did dominate an era too.’
Until now, I’d only thought of him as a distant senior Hunter, but that meant I’d understood Kim Butler far too little.
‘To make an A-rank Mage—and Im Chun-su at that—obey like a dog.’
He’d assigned the old war hero 8 rounds of 100 sets of PT exercises, and later even kicked his joints with the heel of his shoe. The way he’d berated Im Chun-su in that gentle voice still gave me chills just thinking about it.
‘Trainee, who told you to use mana during PT exercises?’
Smack!
‘Trainee Number 1, Im Chun-su. I-I’m sorry, sir.’
‘Does it hurt? Have you gotten so old that your voice has weakened too?’
‘N-no, sir!’
‘Attention. At ease. Attention. At ease.’
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
‘Lie backward. Lie forward. Lie backward. Lie backward.’
‘Huff.’
‘Trainee, didn’t you hear me say to lie backward? Get your head in the game.’
‘I’ll correct myself, sir!’
‘And why are you tormenting your innocent junior? Haven’t I emphasized this repeatedly? That seniors and juniors should help one another.’
‘I-I’m sorry, sir.’
‘Repeat after me. As you sit, cherish your junior. As you stand, care for them. One. Two.’
‘Cherish your junior!’
‘Trainee, you’re from the 25th batch if I remember correctly?’
‘Trainee Number 1, Im Chun-su. Yes, that’s correct.’
‘I am from the 3rd class of the Hunter Training Institute. If word of what happened today leaks outside, or if this repeats even once more, every single trainee from the 4th class through the 24th class will assemble without exception.’
‘….’
‘Why aren’t you answering? Prepare for squat thrusts.’
‘Y-yes, preparing….’
Rolling, rolling, and rolling again.
Truly a sight you couldn’t witness even if you paid for it. Had the Sangdong Guild members seen this, they would have shut the guild doors for good today.
‘Kim Butler, who exactly is this man?’
A 3rd class graduate from the Hunter Training Institute—someone who could line up every Guild Master in the nation and beat them senseless. And on top of that, he was a former Instructor.
It’s no exaggeration to say that virtually every mage from the early days of the Great Cataclysm passed through his hands.
‘His capabilities as a mage are at least A-rank.’
You could tell just from watching Im Chun-su endure the punishment without a peep. Kim Butler surpassed him in both experience and skill.
Ice and flame. While magical compatibility played a role, it was also Kim Butler who had trained Im Chun-su and guided him to his current position.
‘But….’
So why was someone of that caliber working as a butler? I caught myself glancing sideways at Kim Butler when our eyes met directly.
“You seem to have many questions.”
“To be honest, I do.”
The curiosity was unbearable.
My expression, which laid bare my thoughts, made Kim Butler’s lips curl upward.
“It’s a long story.”
“That’s fine. I’m on vacation, so I have plenty of time.”
“Ah, then I could hear about Jin Tae-kyung as well. I’ve been curious about quite a few things about him.”
“Come to think of it, it’s already evening. Since tomorrow is my last day of vacation, I need to handle the real estate contract too. Hehehehe.”
“….”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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